Latest foodbank figures 'should shock and anger’ say Churches

• 900,000 needing to use foodbanks "should shock and angerus"
• Figures "should lead Government to examine why the post-WelfareReform benefits system allows so many people to go hungry."

Leaders of the Methodist Church, Baptist Union of Great Britainand United Reformed Church have responded with concern to thelatest figures from the Trussell Trust, releasedtoday.

"These figures should shock and anger us," said Methodist Presidentthe Revd Ruth Gee. "Hunger should not and need not be a problem ina rich country like the UK - and yet clearly it is. We thank Godfor foodbanks, which provide a vital lifeline to people who wouldotherwise be forced to go hungry.

"Wherever I have travelled in my year as president I have asked thesame two questions: do you have a foodbank here and have you seenincreased need for it?

"Wherever I have travelled the answers to both questions have been'yes' and I am not hearing about small increases in need; I amhearing about huge leaps in demand and foodbanks that arestruggling to keep up."

The Trussell Trust highlights static incomes, rising living costs,low pay, underemployment and problems with welfare, especiallysanctioning, as significant drivers of the increased demand.Yesterday, the Department for Work and Pensions published research that shows that a third of families affectedby the Benefit Cap have already had to cut spending on essentialitems such as food, while more than one in ten of these familieshave needed to borrow money to make ends meet - often from paydaylenders.

"Over 900,000 people needing the help of a foodbank should lead theGovernment to examine why the post-Welfare Reform benefits systemallows so many people to go hungry," added the Revd StephenKeyworth, Faith and Society Team Leader for the Baptist Union ofGreat Britain. "Churches and others are doing sterling workreaching out to help folk in need but this isn't how it shouldbe.

"It is a great a testimony that so many people have given up timeand money to meet this need - it is a great tragedy that so manymore families find themselves in such need.

"It is not credible to deny there are more people who are hungry -these figures should spur us on to address the important questionof why there are more people hungry".

The Revd Gee has written a blog on her experiencestravelling the country and talking to churches that runfoodbanks.

Last year the Churches, together with the Church of Scotland, published a report highlighting the myths about poverty in theUK today. One of the most destructive myths - fuelled by "shirkerand striver" rhetoric - is that people who live in poverty are lazyand work shy.